The 2026 college football season is starting to take shape, and for Louisville, it’s a schedule that offers plenty of intrigue, a few revenge opportunities, and a chance to build serious momentum in Jeff Brohm’s fourth year at the helm.
Opening with a Familiar Foe in a Familiar Setting
Louisville kicks off the season with a high-profile neutral-site matchup against Mississippi at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on either Sept. 5 or 6. It’s a rematch of the 2021 season opener, when the Rebels took down the Cardinals 43-24 in Atlanta. That game exposed some early-season rust for Louisville back then, but this time around, Brohm’s squad will be looking to flip the script and set the tone for a season that carries real expectations.
Three Straight at Home to Set the Foundation
Following the opener, the Cards return to L&N Stadium for a three-game homestand. First up is Villanova on Friday, Sept. 11 - a game Louisville will be expected to control, but one that also offers a chance to fine-tune things before the ACC slate begins.
Then comes a pair of conference matchups that could shape the early trajectory of the season. On Sept.
19, Louisville hosts SMU, a team they haven’t yet beaten since the Mustangs joined the ACC in 2024. That stat alone should provide all the motivation needed.
A week later, Wake Forest comes to town for the first meeting between the programs since Louisville’s 48-21 win over a then-No. 10 Demon Deacons squad in 2022.
That was a signature moment for Louisville under Brohm - and another performance like that would go a long way in reestablishing dominance at home.
Road Test in Raleigh and a Friday Night Lights Showdown
October starts with a trip to NC State on Oct. 3 - the first time Louisville will play in Raleigh since edging the Wolfpack 13-10 in 2023. That one was a grind-it-out win, and it wouldn’t be surprising if this year’s matchup follows a similar script. NC State is never an easy place to play, and this will be Louisville’s first true road test of the season.
Just six days later, the Cards are back under the lights on a Friday night, welcoming Florida State to L&N Stadium on Oct. 9.
This will be the first meeting between the two since they clashed in the 2023 ACC Championship. That game carried serious weight, and while the stakes in October may not be quite as high, the intensity certainly will be.
A Trip North, a Bye, and a West Coast Visit
The following week, Louisville heads to Syracuse on Oct. 17, returning to the JMA Wireless Dome for the first time since a rough 31-7 season-opening loss in 2022. That game left a bad taste in the mouths of Cards fans - and you can bet the players haven’t forgotten either.
After a well-timed bye week on Oct. 24, Louisville gets a unique challenge: a first-ever home game against Stanford on Oct.
- The Cardinal are still adjusting to life in the ACC, and this one could be a chance for Louisville to assert itself against one of the league’s newer additions.
November Road Gauntlet and a Rivalry Finale
The final month of the regular season is where things get real. Louisville opens November with back-to-back road games, starting with a trip to Georgia Tech on either Nov. 6 or 7. The exact date is still TBD, but the Yellow Jackets have been a tough out at home, and playing in Atlanta under the Friday night lights or in a Saturday afternoon heat could be a test of depth and discipline.
Then, it’s off to Chapel Hill on Nov. 14 for a showdown with North Carolina - the first meeting between the two since 2017, when Lamar Jackson led the Cards to a 47-35 win. That game was an offensive showcase, and while Jackson’s long gone, the potential for fireworks remains.
Louisville wraps up the home slate on Nov. 21 against Pittsburgh, a team that’s always physical and rarely makes things easy. It’s the kind of game that could have bowl implications or even ACC Championship ramifications, depending on how the season unfolds.
And of course, the regular season finale is the one everyone circles: the rivalry clash with Kentucky on Nov. 28 at Kroger Field in Lexington. The Cards dominated the Wildcats 41-14 in their last trip there to close out the 2024 season, and they'll be looking to repeat that performance - or better - to cap off 2026 on a high note.
The Road Ahead
With a mix of marquee matchups, revenge games, and pivotal conference showdowns, Louisville’s 2026 schedule is built for drama. If Brohm’s team can navigate the early stretch and stay healthy through the back half, there’s a real path to another strong campaign. The pieces are in place - now it’s about execution.
2026 Louisville Football Schedule
- Sept. 5 or 6: vs. Mississippi (Nashville, Tenn.)
- Sept. 11 (Fri): vs.
Villanova
- Sept. 19: vs.
SMU
- Sept. 26: vs.
Wake Forest
- Oct. 3: at NC State
- Oct. 9 (Fri): vs.
Florida State
- Oct. 17: at Syracuse
- Oct. 24: BYE
- Oct. 31: vs. Stanford
- Nov. 6 or 7: at Georgia Tech
- Nov. 14: at North Carolina
- Nov. 21: vs. Pittsburgh
- Nov. 28: at Kentucky
Buckle up - this one’s shaping up to be a season worth watching.